Mary and Max
NB! Additional Screening Sunday 27th Sep at 4.30pm, Bio Rex
”Mary and Max” is sublimely good. Not just good animation, which it certainly is, and not just good because it’s Australian (as a lamington). ”Mary and Max” is original, personal, funny and moving; a film of warmth and compassion from a major artist. It could only be done as animation but it transcends that, too, to become a film of great seriousness, unlike most films in that form. It’s not for kiddies, either, unless you want to explain what prostitution, condoms and alcoholism are.
– PAUL BYRNES, THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Maudlin sentiment, miserablist humor and scatological sight gags are affectionately but awkwardly molded together in the Australian claymation feature ”Mary and Max”. A glum tale of friendship between two very unlikely pen pals, writer-director-designer Adam Elliot’s follow-up to his Oscarwinning 2003 short Harvie Krumpet has its share of deadpan amusements, but its combo of mordant whimsy and tearjerker moments winds up curdling in an unappetizing fashion. A strong voice cast headed by Toni Collette and Philip Seymour Hoffman could buoy the toon’s otherwise uncertain prospects beyond Oz.
– JUSTIN CHANG, VARIETY
Duration: 92 min
Dialogue: English
